Sparking mechanism for electric igniters.



PATENTED SEPT. 29, 1903.

4 0. B. KING. SPARKING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC IGNITERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1902.

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PATENTED SEPT. 29

C. BzKING. SPARKING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC IGNITERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1902.

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WM WW UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SPARKING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRlC IGNITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 739,882, datedSeptember 29, 1903.

Application filed July 16, 1902. Serial No. 115,660. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES l3. KING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sparking Mechanismfor Electric Igniters, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to sparking mechanism for electric igniters, beingspecially designed for use in connection with explosionengines.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of themechanism within a housing having a transparent face; further, in theconstruction and arrangement of a governor by which the lead or point ofignition is automatically varied to correspond to changes in speed ofthe engine, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal section, partly inelevation; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection in the plane of the shaft. Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electricconnections.

A is a rotary shaft adapted to be driven by the engine. (Not shown.) Bisa head mounted upon said shaft and preferably formed of insulatingmaterial. This head carries a circular series of spaced contacts a,preferably arranged upon the periphery thereof, and also an end contactor electrode 0. The latter constitutes the movable member of acommutator and is preferably of segmental form.

D is a casing surrounding the head 13 and provided with a hub E, whichconstitutes a bearing for the shaftA. The casing D is preferably ofcylindrical form, having an open end across which is placed atransparent panel F, secured in position by a clampingcollar G. v

H represents a series of electrodes arranged around the cylindrical wallof the casing D and passing outward through apertures therein. Each ofthese electrodes preferably comprises a rod 7), having a pair ofinsulatingcollars c sleeved thereon, said collars being ner end of therod 1) has a transverse slot therein adapted to receive the shank of therod d. The latter is bent into an L-shaped form, its opposite endterminatingin a point. The outer end of the rod b is threaded to engageclamping-nuts c and f, which serve both to clamp the collars cinposition and also constitute a binding-post for securing the electricconnections. Between the shank of the rod and the collar 0 is a washerg.

It will be understood from the description above given that thetightening of the nut 6 will draw upon the rod 19, while the shank ofthe rod d will act as a key for holding the washer g and cause it toclamp the collars c in position. At the same time the tightening of thenut e will clamp the shank d, so as to hold the same in position.

Intermediate the electrodes H and upon opposite sides of the casing aretwo apertures, in the wall thereof, corresponding to theaperturesihrough which the electrodes pass. Passing through one of theseapertures is a rod 1, similar in construction to the rod 1) and providedwith corresponding insulatingwashers and clamping-nuts. The inner end ofsaid rod engages the shank of a rod 1, which also has an L shape, buthas the inwardly extending arm thereof of greater length than the rod d,so as to extend to the center of the rotary head B. At its inner end itis provided with a point extending into proximity to the face of theelectrode 0.

K is a rod or shank extending through the other aperture referredto,bein g provided with similar clamping-nuts andinsulating-washers andhaving a head at its inner end for clamping in position the contact-armL. This arm is preferably made of spring metal and ex-. tends intoproximity to the peripheral contacts on the head B, forming a brushfor's uccessively closing the circuit with said contacts.

The parts thus far described are so constructed and arranged that therotation of the shaft A will cause the head B to carry the electrode 0successively into registration with the rod d of the electrodes H. Theserods, as stated, terminate in points and are arranged to extend in closeproximity to the segmental face of the electrode C. The rotation of thehead B will also cause the contacts ICC a on the periphery thereof tosuccessively contact with the brush L, and as all of the contacts a areconnected together they Will constitute, in connection with the brush L,a periodic circuit-closer. arranged to control the primary circuit ofthe induction or sparking coil M, as indicated in the diagram Fig. 4.The secondary circuit and the coil M pass through the rod J to therotary electrode G, which successively closes the circuit through aplurality of branches respectively connected to the electrodes H andeach including the sparking electrodes and the igniter. These sparkingelectrodes,it will be understood, are for use in the separate cylindersof explosion-chambers of a multicylinder engine.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means forautomatically changing the lead or point of ignition in the variousexplosion-chambers of the engine. This is accomplished by arranging acentrifugal governor adapted when the speed of the engine, andconsequently of the shaft A, exceeds normal to cause the rotaryadjustment of the head B thereon, thereby varying the time of closingthe primary circuit. As illustrated in the drawings, this governorcomprises a head N, fixedly secured to the shaft Aand within the casingD. O is a weighted arm eccentrically pivoted at P to the hub N andhaving its free end connected by a spring Q with the post R on saidhead. The arm 0 is connected to a segmental gear S, which meshes with acorresponding segmental gear T upon the head B. In operation the outwardswinging of the arm 0 is resisted by the spring Q; but whenever thespeed of the engine exceeds normal the increased centrifugal force Willcause the arm 0 to move outward, and through the medium of theintermeshing segmental racks S and T the head B will be rotativelyadjusted.

This circuit-closer is It Will be observed that the whole of themechanism is inclosed within a casing D, and as the latter has atransparent face F the engineer can at any time observe the operation ofthe parts.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an electric igniter, thecombination with a casing, of a combined periodic circuitcloser andcommutator for the primary and secondary circuits respectively and acentrifugal governor for varyingthe period of closure, all containedwithin the casing.

2. In an electric igniter, the combination with a shaft, of a rotaryhead thereon constituting the movable member of a circuit-closer and acommutator, and a centrifugal governor for rotatively adjusting saidhead upon said shaft.

3. In an electric igniter, the combination with a casing of a shaftextending therein, a head on said shaft Within said casing constitutingthe movable member of a circuit-closer and a commutator, a centrifugalgovernor mounted upon said shaft adjacent to said head and connectionsbetween said governor and head whereby the latter is rotatively adjustedby variation in the speed of said shaft. 7 4. In an electric igniter,the combination witha shaft, of a head mounted thereon constituting themovable member of a combined circuit-closer and commutator, a weightedarm eccentrically pivotally connected to said shaft adjacent to saidhead, intermeshing gear-segments connecting said arm and head and acounter-tension device for resisting the outward movement of said arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. KING.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODoennarv, H. 0. SMITH.

